University basketball coach Pokey Chatman and basketball player Seimone Augustus each received honors Saturday evening at the 39th-annual Academy of Victor Sports Awards in Las Vegas, Nev.
Chatman garnered the Victor Sports Award as the nation’s Outstanding Women’s College Basketball Coach for the 2004-05 season, and Augustus accepted the nation’s Outstanding Female College Basketball Player award.
The Victor Sports Awards recognize the nation’s top amateur and professional athletes and coaches, and are the longest running televised sports awards.
“This award is extremely special to me, not only because of its 39 year history, but more importantly because of its partnership with the City of Hope Medical Research Center,” Chatman said in a news release. “The job we do as coaches pales in comparison to the many lives saved through the cancer research represented by the entire Victor Awards Team and the City of Hope.”
The Victor Sports Awards benefit the City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles, Calif., which is a biomedical research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
“It’s only fitting that Seimone’s efforts as a basketball player be recognized by a group that has impacted lives [through cancer research], the way she has impacted the game,” Chatman said.
Augustus averaged 20.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for the 2004-05 season, and was the consensus National Player of the Year.
The United States Basketball Writer’s Association and the Associated Press named Augustus their Player of the Year in women’s collegiate basketball.
Her other player of the year honors included the Wade Trophy, the John R. Wooden Award, the Honda Sports Award and the Naismith Trophy.
Chatman coached the Lady Tigers to a 33-3 record and the University’s first Southeastern Conference regular season title and a second consecutive NCAA Final Four appearance.
She also received Coach of the Year honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, the Black Coaches Association and the United States Basketball Writers Association.
The National Academy of Sports Editors vote to determine the winners of the Victor Sports Awards. The organization is made up of a cross-section of sports editors, writers and broadcasters.
The awards show handed out 35 honors throughout 15 sports, and other winners included Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and University of Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart.
The awards were held at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net on Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m.